Axle-lubricator



(No Model 2 Sheetsi-Sheet 1.

W. G. LUSSON. AXLE LUBRIGATOR.

No. 353,229. Patented Nov. 23, 1886.

" w/ M58858 yn/T04? Y Afforney 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)-

. 0. LUSSON.

AXLE LUBRIGATOR.

No. 353,229. Patented Nov. 23, 1886.

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UNIT D STATES: PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER O. LUSSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AX LE-LU BRICATO R.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,229, dated November23, 1886.

Application [nea August 24, 1826. Serial No. 211,706. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER O. LUssoN, a citizen of the United States,residing'at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAxle-Lubricators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame. 7

My invention relates to axle lubrieators; and the object of theinvention isto provide a lubricator for oiling axles which can be ma- 0nipulated from the exterior ofthe hub back of the spokes or web of thewheel, and which shall at each revolution of thewheel carry a suitableamount of lubricant into the joint or space between the axle andaxle-box, and to provide means whereby the lubricant shall be evenlydistributed over the entire surface of the spindle, and for preventingthe escape of the lubricant from the front end of the hub.

In carrying my invention into practice I cast the axle-box andlubricator chamber or reservoir in a single piece, and provide ascrewcover for the rear end ofthe lubricator-reservoir, anextension ofwhich also forms the band for the rear of the hub in lieu of the usualsand-band. I provide a set-screw for regulating the feed, and which canbe taken out when the reservoir is to be filled. The set-screw is to beprovided with ajam-nut, to be screwed down tight on the rim after theset-screw is properly regulated. The reservoir is provided with a cup orcurved lip,whieh is placed on one side of the oil-hole, and which servesto carry the lubricant up on top ofthe axle every revolution of thewheel, and insures that the lubricant shall be properly delivered to theoil'hole or valve at each revolution of the wheel, whether there be muchor little oil or lubricant in the reservoir. A smaller lip or projectionon the opposite side of the valve or oil opening prevents the oil fromfalling back on that side. An annular channel is provided around theaxle, registering with the oil-hole, in which the lubricant is receivedand carried round the hub, and a longitudinal channel in the spindleconveys the oil the full length of the spindle, andis kept continuallyfull of oil,

whereby the entire surface of the spindle is kept thoroughly oiled and aperfect circulation maintained. The front of the hub is provided with acapwhich is screwed into an angle-plate, and lies inside of the bandofthe wheel. The verticalportion of the angle-plate is held in place bya washer and the nut which is screwed upon the end of the spindle.

Many minor details of construction will appear in the followingdescription by figures and letters.

The accompanying drawings illustrate-what I consider the best means forcarrying my invention into practice. Figure 1 is a central longitudinalsection of a hub provided with my lubricating means. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation of the lubricating device, with the axle in cross section andwithout the wooden portions of the hub. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation ofthelubricating device, showing it with the axle-box detached from allother parts. Fig. 4. is a central longitudinal section of the lubricatorreservoir and the axle-box. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section ofthe lubricator'chamber.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they occur.

A is the wooden portion of the hub, and A the spokes. (Shown broken offin Fig. 1.)

B is the axle-box, and O is the lubricantreservoir, cast together. Thelubricant reservoir or chamber is cast on the rear or inner end of theaxle-box, and consists of an annular chamber, in which is provided anexterior and an interior opening, (marked, respectively, a and c Throughthe opening 0 in the exterior Wall the lubricant is introduced into thereservoir, and through the opening 0 in the interior wall it flows intothe spindle. A set-screw, c, is provided to pass through the opening 0',which is threaded for that purpose. This set-screw forms a stopper forthe opening 0' and a regulator for the flow of lubricant through theopening 0 in conjunction with the edges or sides of which opening theset-screw 0 forms a valve, which can be opened more or less, or entirelyclosed, if desired. To prevent the set-screw from being accidentallyturned, a jam-nut, c, is set over it and screwed down tight upon theouter wall or rim of the lubricant-chamber after the feed 7 has beenproperly adjusted by setting the screw On one side of the opening 0 onthe inner wall of the lubricant-chamber, I provide a cup or curved lip,c, which serves to gather a quantity of lubricant at each revolution ofthe wheel, and when the hole comes on top again the lubricant will bedelivered to it in such manner as to cause it to be fed through saidhole 0 As shown, this lip or cup 0 extends across the lubricantchamberto the point where it meets the cover of said chamber. A smaller lip orprojection, 0 is placed upon the opposite side of opening 0 and serves 1to more effectually deliver the oil into the hole a and prevents it frombeing carried down that side of the chamber as the wheel is revolved.The outer wall of the reservoir is carried forward, as shown at c", andforms a 2 band which rests over the rear end of the hub.

The cover 0 is separately formed, and is secured upon the reservoir byascrew-threaded annular flange, 0 which engages screw-threads upon theinterior of the outer wall of the reser- 2 5 voir. A second flange, cfits over the interior wall of the reservoir, and a rear projectiontakes the place of the ordinary sand-band used upon hubs.

D is thev spindle of the axle, which has the 0 usual circularenlargement, Di, at the rear end. This enlargement lies in the spaceformed by the oil-reservoir, and is provided with an annular groove orchannel which registers with the opening or oil-hole c and receives thein- 3 5 bricant therefrom. From this groove or channel the lubricantseeps out around the spindle and keeps the rear end thoroughly oiled. Alongitudinal groove or channel, d, is provided in the spindle andcommunicates with channel d, and extends the entire length of thespindle. This channel d is kept constantly filled with oil from thereservoir,and affords a means for perfect circulation of the oil orlubricant around the spindle. The spindle being tapering from 5 rear toforward end, the flow of lubricant.

through channel d is natural and sure, as the lubricator chamber orreservoir is situated at the rear or broader end of the spindle. Thiswould not be the case in constructions where the lubricator chamber orreservoir is located in front of the spokes or web of the wheel. Thefront end of the spindle receives the nut or tap E in the usual way,with a washer, 6, between its flange and the end of the axle-box. 5 Anangle-plate, F f, is placed back of the washer e, and is held in placethereby, while its horizontal flange f extends forward past the flangeon the nut or tap, and is internally screw-threaded at this forward endto receive the screw-threaded flange g of a cap, G, which is screwedtightly up against the parts and forms a confining means for the oil atthe front end of the hub.

Aband, H, is set over the end of the wooden 6 portion A of the hub andextends out over the nut, angle-plate, and cap.

A washer, i, may be placed between the end of the axle-box and theenlargement D of the spindle.

The exterior of the axle-box is preferably furnished with radial wingsd, which take into the wood of the hub and prevent the box from turningtherein. These wings, as shown, only extend a portion of the length ofthe hub.

The lubricating device can be placed on any Wheel-vehicle when made orwhen already in use. The circulation of the oil or lubricant about thespindle is perfect, the entire surface of the spindle being kept in anunctuous state by. reason of the longitudinal groove or channel. g

The cap G prevents the nut or tap from being unscrewed when the vehicleis backed or the wheel turnedin a direction opposite to that ofprogression. At the same time this cap prevents the oil from oozing outat the front part of the hub, and the space between the nut and the capmay act as a reservoir for refuse oil which works into it, and may becleared away by simply removing the cap; but, as will be readily seen,the cap may be omitted, if desired.

As a rule, the wheel need not be removed, except at long intervals,whenalotof dead and gummy oil has accumulated and it is desired to cleanit off; but when it is desired to remove the wheel it is apparent thatit may be done readily in the ordinary manner, by unscrewing the cap andthe nut or tap.

As already stated, the lubricator-reservoir being located on the innerend, insures the flow of oil with the taper of the axle and not againstit, as is the case with those which lubricate from the outside of thehub.

The lubricator-reservoir may be cleaned by removing the set-screw andturning the hub in the proper position to bring the opening 0undernea-th.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In an axle-lubricator, the combination, with the axle-box andlubricator-chamber cast in asingle piece, of the cap or cover for saidchamber screwed into the walls thereof and extended back to form theband for the hub and axle, as set forth.

2. In an axle-lubricator, a lubricator-chamber having its outer wall orshell carried forward to form a band for the wooden portion of the hub,and a removable end cap or cover for said chamber, as set forth.

3. In an axle-lubricator, a lubricator chamber or reservoir extendingentirely around the spindle and provided with an opening in its outerwall and another in its inner wall, and a set-screw with jam-nut upon itto act as a stopper for the outer opening and as a valve or regulatingmeans for the inner opening, as set forth.

4.. In an axle-lubricator, an annular lubricator-chamber provided withan opening extending to the axle-space, and a cup or lip formed orsecured upon one side of said opening, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an aXle-lubricator, an annular lubricator chamber having anopening to the axle-space within and a cup or lip on one side of saidopening, and a smaller lip or projection on the other side of saidopening, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an aXle-lubricator, the combination, with the lubricator chamberhaving a discharge-opening, of the spindle having an annular groove orchannel registering with said opening in the interior wall of thelubricator- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

WALTER O. LUSSON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. LEX, J r., THos. D. MowLDs.

